Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

Game Description: Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror gives you a dangerous job to perform, as you push yourself to the limits. Become Gabe Logan, as you handle the missions that are too politically sensitive for a standard military strike.

I might be doing the game a little bit of a disservice by comparing it so directly to two of the leaders in the third-person military action genre (is that even a genre?), but it's almost impossible to see this game outside of its influences. However, the positive side is that by being measured against the biggest boys around (and, uh… Kill.Switch, too), Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror doesn't just hold its own, it kicks some ass.

First and foremost, this game moves. The pace is set high and maintains the same tense energy level throughout. There are plenty of hints and cues to make sure that sticking points don't exist, and the cutscenes and radio chatter do a great job of keeping the focus on the mission. No matter what I was doing, I always felt like I was pointed in the right direction.

While out in the field, Gabe tackles a surprisingly wide variety of objectives and situations. Of course there's plenty of combat, the kind where finding cover is essential to survival—that's the Kill.Switch influence. Besides straight-up shooting, several legs of the op give our hero a partner, and it's to the developers' credit that none of these escort missions drag the game down a bit. My favorite section was rescuing abandoned UN squaddie Janzen from some Eastern European thugs, and then teaming up to escape a bombed-out industrial area in search of his unit.

There are plenty of other juicy segments keeping things fresh; one tight sequence was helping a technician reboot a mainframe by watching him through the ceiling with my infrared goggles, and then blasting oncoming enemies through the tiles. Small touches abound, like shooting out a spotlight, providing cover fire, or giving a boost up to someone who needs it. These bits lending an appropriate level of realism are often forgotten on consoles, so they're doubly appreciated on a portable.

Speaking of infrared goggles, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is no slouch in the techno-fetish department. Gabe comes packing a nifty sniper rifle that has poison gas, taser, and explosive attachments in addition to the full range of goggle options (nightvision/infrared/electronic) and a whole slew of firearms that can be acquired in the field. Everything a covert operative could want is here, and highly functional to boot.

Putting all these elements together adds up to the best Syphon Filter game ever, and it just sweetens the deal that Sony Bend came up with a control setup that's not only completely effective, but very well-thought-out, too. Considering the difficulty most PSP games are having compensating for the lack of a second stick, it's totally refreshing to play one that gets it completely right. There's something to be said about designing games specifically for the hardware, obviously.

I could go on, but everything about the game is top-quality. The artificial intelligence provides plenty of interesting moments, the save points are frequent, the story is more accessible than Splinter Cell's dry politi-babble, the voice work and graphics are the best I've seen on the PSP, and the entire game drips with polish and care delivered by people who know what they're doing. Compared to the competition on PSP, Dark Mirror's Gabe leaves Snake shuffling his cards and puts Sam in the ground with two bullets in his head.Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror – Consumer Guide

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language

Parents will want to use their better judgment. This game features fairly realistic combat against other human beings, employing all sorts of firearms and explosives. There are also a small number of scenes that could be seen as somewhat graphic, and the language can get a bit salty at times with expletives being used, although I will say that they are used in the appropriate places and not excessively. There is no sexual content, but it's pretty clear that the rest of the game is aimed at a mature audience.

Action gamers on the PSP just hit the mother lode. This is easily one of the best games on PSP, period, and rockets to the top of the genre overall. The action is tight, the story keeps it moving, and there's a ton of quality work put into the graphics and presentation. Sony Bend has done an outstanding job, and should be proud that their adventure can be considered in the same class as a Splinter Cell or Metal Gear.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing gamers should be aware that the game provides subtitles for all important dialogue and cutscenes, always appreciated. There is a wealth of visual information available on screen including a map that highlights nearby enemies, but it should be noted that audio cues sometimes play an important role. It often helps to be able to hear enemies talking, or the sound of their footsteps in the distance.